“Taken together they provide a supply of energy generation that is more stable and constant than any single one alone.”

Supporters have long championed renewables as a way to reduce the UK’s dependence on imports and exposure to price shocks, while creating jobs and investment.

Last week, eight major renewable energy projects were given the go ahead across the UK. Industry trade body RenewableUK said the news was encouraging, but has urged the government to go further.

“We need far more onshore and offshore wind projects over the next decade if we’re not to find our energy security threatened and the UK further exposed to price shocks from imported fossil fuels, so it’s important that the contracts for difference regime works for all renewable energy projects, not just those that have secured early contracts,” said Maf Smith, deputy chief executive of RenewableUK.